by Rebecca Deel
“I understand. Chris is better lately.”
“That’s interesting.” Lily studied the shop owner. “Lynne said the same thing.”
“Is there something going on with Christine and James?” Remy asked.
“I don’t know, Remy. Chris doesn’t say much about him or their marriage.” Her gaze skated to Lily for a moment before shifting back. “I’m surprised you’re so interested.”
“I know about Christine, Kara.” Lily patted the woman’s hand. “Remy told me.”
“James hasn’t heard from her in over a week,” he said. “He’s worried about her, asked if we’d check on her while we’re in the French Quarter.”
Kara frowned. “That’s not like her. Maybe she’s just caught up in her shopping. She’s been known to do that, especially recently.”
“Is that right? What makes you say that?”
“A couple months ago, she went to New Orleans and when she came back, she was on top of the world. The old Chris was back, you know? I just thought she found some new shops or made some new friends in the French Quarter.”
A few more minutes of idle conversation left them with nothing new to add to their pitiful pile of information. Back on the street, Remy sighed. “We’ve got two more people to interview, but I have a feeling they won’t know anything more than Lynne and Kara did.”
Lily shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
They walked a block down to the antique shop, chatted with one of the clerks who waited on Christine frequently as the owner was out of town for the week. Netting nothing new with the clerk, she and Remy returned to the SUV. “What’s next?”
“Country club to see Audra Cassidy.”
Lily stared at him, feeling a little light-headed. “Country club?” She glanced down at her clothes. Black pants, black shirt, low-cut black boots. Not exactly country club attire.
“You look gorgeous, Elf.”
“Right. I’m wearing what every society maven wears to be fashionable. Black from head to foot, including my weapon.”
“Hey, you’re color coordinated.”
She snorted.
“Sweetness, I’m wearing the exact same thing. Besides, it’s time for lunch. We might as well eat there.”
“You have a country club membership?”
He shrugged. “I bought memberships for the whole Doucet clan. Saves my mother from having to cook large meals all the time. It’s a nice treat for her.”
“You’re something else, you know that?” How many other men would think to buy something like that for his whole family, all gazillion of them, just to give his mother a break from the kitchen. She shuddered to think how expensive that might be. “You’re sure we’re dressed okay?” The last thing they needed to do was stand out. Wouldn’t be wise to draw too much attention to themselves. If Christine had been kidnapped, they needed to keep a low profile.
“I’m taking my girlfriend out to lunch, trying to impress her with good food and my dazzling company. And you might be surprised at the attire of people enjoying lunch there.”
He was right. Sure, there were several people dressed in business attire, but there were others in jeans, still others dressed for tennis and golf. And Lily had to admit the food was amazing and Remy was entertaining. Stories about his growing up years left her holding her aching sides. “Did you really use your mother’s sheets to make a tent with?”
“Oh, yeah. Brand new ones, too. I wasn’t the instigator, though. That was Emile. Mom would have been okay with it except old Lucifer decided to pay us a visit. By the time he was finished with our tent, Mom’s sheet was only fit for the trash. All of us lost our allowance for a couple months to pay for a new set of sheets.” His eyes glittered with amusement. “And she didn’t buy the cheap ones, either. She bought 700-count Egyptian cotton.”
Lily laughed. “Sounds like growing up in the Doucet household was a lot of fun.”
“It had its moments.” His hand slid across the table, covered hers. “What about your childhood, Lily?”
Her smile faded. “Not as much fun.” And some days, downright dangerous.
“Tell me.”
“It’s not a pretty story, Remy.”
He didn’t say anything, just waited.
Lily sighed. The man would no doubt wait her out. He was aggravatingly patient. “I grew up in the foster care system. Some homes were okay, a few were good, many were bad.” She couldn’t make herself say more as her throat had tightened at the memories surging to the forefront of her mind. Being locked in closets, locking doors at night to keep people from coming into her room while she was sleeping and vulnerable, the beatings, the lack of food.
“Lily, look at me.”
Her gaze shot up to his. What would he think if he knew she’d lived in shelters for two years? At sixteen, she’d discovered something far worse than the beatings or short food supplies. Unwanted male attention. The fear for her own safety drove her to the streets and shelters.
“I know how the system works. There are a lot of good people who are foster parents. There are always some who take advantage of the vulnerable for profit.”
Yes, that was exactly it. Some of the people she stayed with wanted the money and slave labor. Others had insisted she take the state’s money for her own expenses. Unfortunately, those had been few and the time with them short-lived.
“Were you assaulted in one of those homes?”
“If you’re talking about rape, no.”
He studied her a moment, the muscle in his jaw flexing. “You were beaten.”
“On a regular basis until I ran away at sixteen.”
Remy straightened. “Where did you go?”
“Shelters and the streets.”
“Oh, honey,” he murmured. “That should never have happened.”
She shrugged.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
Puzzled, she said, “Why do you say that?”
“You basically raised yourself. When your living situation became too dangerous, you protected yourself the only way you could. Did you enlist in the military at eighteen?”
“On my birthday.”
“What about high school?”
“GED. I studied at night in the shelter after I finished work.”
“Where did you work?”
She smiled. “McDonald’s. I make killer hamburgers and French fries.”
Remy chuckled. “Good to know. You can cook for me next time.”
“Deal.”
His gaze focused over her shoulder. “Audra just sat down at a table on the veranda. Let’s go talk to her.”
CHAPTER TEN
Remy wound through the tables and chairs, stopping to greet a few people along the way who called out to him. Most of them he hadn’t seen in years because when he visited his family, Remy avoided town. As a result, it took longer than he wanted to reach the veranda as every person they talked to wanted to meet Lily. The whole town would know about her by the end of the day. The small-town grapevine was healthy and thriving in Oak Hill.
He opened the French door and ushered his partner outside and to the table in the far corner shaded by the heavy leaves of a magnolia tree. “Audra, you look beautiful.”
The platinum blond’s gaze raised from her tablet to settle on him. She smiled. “Remy Doucet, as I live and breathe. How are you?”
“Good. May we join you for a minute?”
“Of course. Sit, please.” She turned her smile on Lily. “You must be Remy’s girlfriend, Lily.”
“Good grief,” Lily said as she sat across from Audra. “We’ve only been in town a couple hours.”
“Gossip is like a national pastime around here. If something is worth talking about, the whole town gets in on it. So, Remy, what brings you to town?”
“Introducing my girlfriend to the Doucet clan and showing her my hometown.”
“Sounds like you two are serious.”
“I’ve never been more serious about any woman
in my life.” And it was the absolute truth. He’d never been more fascinated by a woman. Lily was such a combination of strength, courage, grit, and vulnerability. Now all he had to do was convince the lady in question that he was worth the risk to her heart. Much as Lily protested she wasn’t a good bet in relationships, he understood she was protecting her vulnerable heart. Nothing would devastate his little elf more than to feel deeply for someone and be abandoned again. Nothing but time would convince Lily Remy would never do that to her.
“I’m happy for you, Remy. It’s good you haven’t pined for Christine all these years.”
Matched his sentiments perfectly, but he was curious as to why she felt that way. “Why do you say that?”
She leaned closer, dropped her voice a little though no one was near their table. “You wouldn’t recognize her anymore, my friend. Chris isn’t the same girl you dated.”
He smiled. “I’m not the same boy, either, Audra.” Hadn’t been since the day he left Oak Hill for NYC.
“You seem to have matured. I can’t say the same about her.”
“She seems stuck in a time warp?” Lily asked.
“Exactly. The only thing about her that’s changed is her hair and clothes. Everything else in her life revolves around Christine.”
Remy rested his arm along the back of Lily’s chair. “Are you two still friends?”
“We work on committees and events together, share a drink now and then. I wouldn’t call us close, though. I honestly don’t know anyone who is.”
“Is she happy?”
Audra hesitated.
“I still care about her, even after everything that happened with James. She was a good friend.”
“Then you are a better friend than he ever was. If the situation had been reversed and Chris had been with James first, you would never have poached on his territory.”
“You’re saying James deliberately went after Christine?” Lily asked, her voice soft.
“You have to understand how things were back then, Lily. Remy here was the all American boy. Letters in several sports. Quarterback, captain of the baseball team, basketball player, a good scholar, those Doucet dark looks, the easy way with females. People looked up to him. He’s a natural-born leader. He had it all plus the prettiest girl in school. James, on the other hand, had pots of money, was not the least bit athletic, was socially awkward, and because he was Remy’s best friend, constantly overlooked because of the golden boy. He loved Christine and was determined to win her from Remy, by fair means or foul. Doucet, here, was honorable enough that he would never have done the same to James.”
“You’re right.” Lily glanced at him. “Remy isn’t capable of such deceit.”
He caught a glimpse of dark emotions roiling in her gaze, wondered what she was thinking. “Audra, are James and Christine having problems?”
“I know James is under a lot of pressure with Wilder Industries. Chris told me some of what was going on, about the embezzlement. He’s been spending a lot of time away from home. Chris was feeling neglected.”
Remy glanced at the woman by his side. He couldn’t imagine Lily reacting as Christine had to James’ long work hours. If anything, Lily would be asking Remy if she could help or she’d get busy with her own job. “Neglected enough to stray?”
Audra’s eyes widened. “Are you asking if she was having an affair?”
“You tell me. You said she hasn’t matured. She took up with James while she was still dating me. Would she feel justified in taking up with someone else?”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose it is possible.”
“Has she mentioned a name in the last couple months, one you don’t know?” Lily asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
“James hasn’t heard from Christine in over a week. He’s worried about her.”
The other woman frowned. “But she’s on an extended shopping trip in New Orleans. She told me she was going. This isn’t the first time she’s done that.”
“A name?” Remy prompted.
She shook her head. “No name. She did mention seeing a doctor in the French Quarter.”
Remy stilled. A doctor? Was she sick? “Checkup?”
“Maybe. She never said.”
“When did she mention the doctor, Audra?” Lily squeezed Remy’s knee under cover of the table.
His muscles relaxed a little at her touch.
“A few weeks ago, maybe. So much has happened in my life since then, it’s hard to remember something Chris mentioned in passing.”
“Where does she like to go when she’s in New Orleans?”
“The Grand Hotel. From there, she usually hits the boutiques, antique shops, and jewelry stores.” Audra grinned. “I’ve never seen anyone love jewelry as much as she does.”
“Do you know if Christine kept an appointment calendar?”
“On her cell phone. Not sure if she had one on paper.”
Remy sighed. Since Christine’s purse had been left in the SUV, there was a good chance her cell was in the pink bag. The only way to know for sure would be to get his hands on her bag. Piece of cake as long as the purse was still in the vehicle. If it wasn’t, Mouton may have it locked up in the evidence room.
Before he tried his hand at burglarizing a police station, he needed to check Christine’s room at the house on the chance she might have kept a regular calendar. A search would also give them a better idea if she had taken much with her. There hadn’t been any luggage in the Escalade. More than anything, though, Remy couldn’t imagine Christine voluntarily leaving behind her purse.
Remy stood, drew Lily to her feet. “If you hear from her, let me know.” He pulled out his contact card. “I’d like to see her before I leave town. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. My job keeps me pretty busy these days.”
“Sure. Good to see you again, Remy. Come back and visit us, Lily.” She tilted her head, smiled at the other woman. “I think you’re good for our Remy. He’s happy with you.”
Outside in the parking lot, Lily turned to him. “Are we going to have to break into the police evidence room?”
“I’m hoping it won’t come to that.” His lips curled. “I don’t want to give Mouton an excuse to throw me in jail. He’d probably lose the key for a long time.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Remy pulled her to a stop. “Wait. You’re going to break in there?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Yeah, search Christine’s room at her home and hope she left a paper calendar or a journal for us to go by.”
“And if we don’t find anything?”
“We’ll come up with another plan.” He frowned. “Do you think you could pull it off?”
“I learned a lot of skills on the streets, Remy. Some good, some not so good. I’m excellent at getting into places I’m not supposed to be.” She smiled.
“Woman of many talents.” He tucked her against his side again and walked her to his Yukon. “Let’s try James’ place first. If we have to hit the evidence room, we need to make some plans.”
Remy pulled up to the gate at the Wilder estate and pushed the call button. After identifying themselves, the iron gate swung open and they drove through to park in front of the mansion.
James met them at the front door. “Have you found any new leads?” Hope gleamed in his eyes.
“Maybe. Let’s go inside where we can talk.”
They followed him to his study. Remy closed the door behind them. “Do you know if Christine kept a calendar with her appointments?”
Surprise crossed his face. “I know she kept most of them on her phone. She might have a desk calendar in her room.”
Remy blinked. Her room? They didn’t share a bedroom? “Would you mind if we searched it?”
“No, of course not.” James rose, led the way up the curving staircase to the second floor.
It was beautiful, he thought. Elegant like Christine. She definitely had a good hand for
home interior. He smiled at himself. Unless she’d hired an interior decorator to take care of it for her.
James waved them into a small office. “The password for Christine’s laptop is in the top right hand drawer.”
Remy winced. One of the first places a burglar would search. “Will you let us search the master bedroom?”
Color surged into his cheeks. “Is that really necessary?”
“It is,” Lily said. “We’re not trying to be nosy. If you want us to find your wife, we need full access.”
James gave a short nod. “It’s directly across the hall. I’ll be in the office downstairs. Let me know if you find anything.”
“James, when Christine goes on her shopping trips, what does she take with her?”
“Two suitcases. One’s filled with her clothes, nightwear, a smaller bag with the stuff for her face. The other suitcase is empty.”
“Empty?” Remy frowned.
“For her new stuff,” Lily said.
Seriously? He’d never seen his mother or sisters-in-law come back from shopping with a suitcase full of new stuff. A bag, sure. “Does she take anything else?”
“Like what?”
“Jewelry.”
James’ eyebrows shot up. “Of course. Christine is always camera ready when she leaves the house or the hotel room.”
At least that hadn’t changed. His former girlfriend had been a fashion plate in high school as well. “Do you know what she took with her this time?”
He shrugged. “She packed and left while I was at work. Is it really necessary to know what jewelry she took with her?”
“Just another piece of information to collect. We don’t know what matters yet, so everything is important.”
“Well, I have a list of what she owns for insurance purposes. Will that help?”
“That would be great,” Lily said. “Is any jewelry kept at another location or in a safe-deposit box at your bank?”
James shook his head. “Christine has a safe in the bedroom. She wanted to keep everything close at hand. I’ll print off the list and write combination down for you.”
After he left the office, Remy and Lily began a systematic search of the room. Several hanging files filled one drawer. Remy dropped into Christine’s desk chair and pulled out the first file. Charity event plans. A lot of them. Police Benevolent fund, Firemen’s fund, Friends of the Library, a women’s shelter, and more. Christine had her hands in almost everything in the community. Representing Wilder Industries, he supposed. All very worthy causes. He wondered, however, if she was so involved because she was interested in their service to the community or because she was expected to participate?
